State lawmakers approved this week a 20-page bill that provides hundreds of millions in additional funding for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, or private school vouchers, as well as student enrollment funding in growing public school units. The revised version of House Bill 10, Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments, was released Monday as a pre-negotiated “conference committee substitute,” with no opportunities for amendments.

As shared in a legislative update on Monday at NCASA’s 2024 School Law & Policy Symposium, the bill includes $463.46 million ($248 million non-recurring and $215.46 million recurring) to retroactively provide additional private school vouchers for this school year, as well as $95 million for the “ADM Contingency Fund," which would help support basic student needs in growing public school districts and charter schools. Other education-related items in the bill include a $36.2 million recurring reduction to the State Public School Fund due to the recent transition to an arrears-based funding model, clarifications on the use of allotted (rather than allocated) funds for various allotments, and an additional ~$64 million in recurring funds for community college enrollment increases.

The bill cleared the Senate on Monday with a 27-17 vote along party lines and was approved 67-43 in the House on Wednesday with support from three Democrats, before being sent to Governor Cooper for final consideration. The Governor, who held a press conference last week in opposition to the proposed voucher expansion, is expected to veto the bill, although it is not yet known whether lawmakers would attempt to override his veto. Republican leadership noted this week that additional votes, including possible veto override attempts, are expected during their planned reconvening on Nov. 19-22. It is not yet known whether lawmakers plan to take additional action during their next scheduled reconvening on Oct. 9.

In addition to passing HB 10, lawmakers this week also passed Senate Bill 917, Additional General Assembly Appointments, which became law on Wednesday without the need for the Governor’s approval. SB 917, now S.L. 2024-50, includes appointments to various boards and commissions, including four appointments to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparations and Standards Commission (PEPSC) for terms expiring August 31, 2016. The bill also includes the appointment of Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) to the Education Commission of the States for a term expiring December 31, 2026.

NCASA would like to thank all members who reached out to their lawmakers regarding the proposed additional expansion of the private school voucher program. We encourage members to continue to utilize our new Advocacy Center, as well as respond to our upcoming legislative priorities survey to help shape our legislative agenda for the 2025-2027 biennium.